Alright, football fans, buckle up. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is coming, and it’s going to be a wild ride. We’re talking 32 of the world’s best clubs, from every corner of the globe, duking it out in the USA from June 14 to July 13, 2025. This isn’t your old-school, seven-team tournament.

This is a month-long, World Cup-style showdown with the best of Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and beyond. Want to know who’s playing, when, and what matches are already locked in? Let’s dive in.

Who’s Playing? The 32 Teams

FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup brings together 32 teams, representing all six FIFA confederations: UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF (North America), AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and OFC (Oceania), plus a slot for the host nation, the USA. Teams qualify either by winning their continent’s top club competition (like the UEFA Champions League or Copa Libertadores) between 2021 and 2024 or through a ranking system based on their performance in those tournaments. Here’s the confirmed lineup, based on the latest updates:

• Europe (UEFA, 12 teams): Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg. These are the heavy hitters, with Real Madrid’s five Club World Cup titles and stars like Kylian Mbappé making them the team to beat. Manchester City, the 2023 champs, and Chelsea, with their 2021 title, are also favorites.
• South America (CONMEBOL, 6 teams): Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Botafogo. Brazil’s got a strong showing here, with Flamengo’s passionate fanbase and River Plate’s storied history ready to bring the South American flair.
• Africa (CAF, 4 teams): Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns. Al Ahly, Egypt’s giants, have won three of the last four CAF Champions League titles, making them a force. Wydad and Espérance are no slouches either, known for pulling off upsets.
• Asia (AFC, 4 teams): Al Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD. Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds bring disciplined, dynamic play that could surprise the big dogs.
• North and Central America (CONCACAF, 4 teams): Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Pachuca, Club América/LAFC. Club León was originally in but got the boot due to multi-club ownership issues with Pachuca. A playoff between Club América and LAFC on May 31, 2025, will decide the final spot.
• Oceania (OFC, 1 team): Auckland City. They’re back for their 12th Club World Cup appearance, the most of any club, representing New Zealand with grit.
• Host Nation (USA, 1 team): Inter Miami. Thanks to their 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield win, Lionel Messi and crew get to kick things off at home.

That’s the crew. From global superstars like Messi and Vinícius Jr. to underdogs ready to shock the world, this lineup is stacked with talent and stories waiting to unfold.

Tournament Schedule: When’s It Happening?

The Club World Cup 2025 runs from June 14 to July 13, 2025, across 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, including Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. The tournament follows a World Cup-style format: eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to a knockout stage (Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final). There’s no third-place playoff, so it’s all about the crown.

• Group Stage: June 14–June 26, 2025. Each team plays three matches in a round-robin format. Expect 48 matches total, with games spread across cities like Atlanta, Seattle, and Orlando.
• Round of 16: June 28–July 1, 2025. Winners and runners-up from each group face off in single-elimination matches.
• Quarterfinals: July 4–5, 2025. The stakes get higher as the field narrows.
• Semifinals: July 8–9, 2025, at MetLife Stadium.
• Final: July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The winner takes home up to $125 million from a $1 billion prize pool.

FIFA’s worked the schedule around the international match calendar to give players a breather before domestic leagues start, though CONCACAF and CONMEBOL clubs will have to juggle their regular seasons. A special transfer window from June 1–10, 2025, lets teams sign new players, and a restricted period from June 27–July 3 handles contract expirations.

Known Game Schedule: What’s Locked In?

The full match schedule, with venues and kick-off times, was finalized on December 7, 2024, after the draw in Miami on December 5. While the complete list of 63 matches is available on FIFA’s website, here are some key group-stage fixtures to get you hyped, all times in local time zones:

• Opening Match: Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly, June 14, 2025, 9:00 PM EDT, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. Messi vs. Africa’s giants—what a way to kick things off
• Group A: Palmeiras vs. Porto, June 14, 2025, 6:00 PM EDT, East Rutherford (MetLife Stadium).
• Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, June 14, 2025, 12:00 PM PDT, Pasadena (Rose Bowl).
• Group B: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, June 15, 2025, 10:00 PM PDT, Seattle (Lumen Field).
• Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, June 14, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT, Cincinnati (TQL Stadium).
• Group C: Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis, June 14, 2025, 9:00 PM EDT, Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field).
• Group D: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, June 14, 2025, 6:00 PM EDT, Miami (Hard Rock Stadium).
• Group E: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, June 17, 2025, Orlando (Inter&Co Stadium).
• Group G: Manchester City vs. Al Ain, June 15, 2025, 3:00 PM EDT, Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium).

The draw sorted teams into eight groups, with some tasty matchups:

• Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
• Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
• Group C: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Auckland City
• Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea, Espérance de Tunis, Club América/LAFC (TBC)
• Group E: River Plate, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns
• Group F: Fluminense, Juventus, Al Ain, Wydad AC
• Group G: Manchester City, Inter Milan, Botafogo, Al Hilal
• Group H: Real Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Monterrey, Raja Casablanca

Note: Group D’s final team depends on the Club América vs. LAFC playoff. Chelsea’s group-stage opponents are still TBD pending that result.

For the full schedule, head to FIFA.com. DAZN is streaming all 63 matches for free worldwide, with sublicensing to local broadcasters like FOX Sports in the U.S.

Why This Matters

This tournament is a football nerd’s paradise. You’ve got global giants like Real Madrid and underdogs like Auckland City sharing the same stage. The group stage alone promises fireworks—think PSG vs. Atlético’s grit or Flamengo’s flair against Chelsea’s Premier League muscle. With $1 billion in prize money and a shiny new trophy designed by Tiffany & Co., the stakes are sky-high.

How to Stay in the Loop

Want to catch every moment? Check FIFA’s website for the full schedule and ticket info—sales are already live, starting at $40. Follow #ClubWorldCup2025 on X to join the fan buzz. And if you’re in the U.S., tune into FOX Sports or stream on FuboTV or ESPN+. Outside the U.S., DAZN’s got you covered.

Wrap-Up

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to be a game-changer. Thirty-two teams, from Messi’s Inter Miami to Al Ahly’s African grit, will battle across the U.S. for a shot at glory. With the schedule locked in and mouthwatering matches like Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly to kick things off, you don’t want to sleep on this. Mark your calendar for June 14, grab your gear, and get ready for a month of football that’ll have the world talking.